Blood banks work to rebound from donation drop-off

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Blood banks across Indiana are struggling to recover from a winter that saw hundreds of blood drives canceled and donations fall.

The American Red Cross reports February was a tough month for donations across the country. The agency says it is down more than 26,000 donations nationally.

WSBT-TV reports at least a dozen Red Cross blood drives were canceled in the South Bend area last month.

Christina Tembo says the South Bend Medical Foundation also saw a drop-off during last month’s cold temperatures. She says the foundation lost hundreds of donations. The Medical Foundation supplies blood to 14 Indiana counties.